Toby was looking forward to all the adventures he would have with his new baby brother. BUT… Benjy can’t run around, invent gadgets or fight crime…He just poops. All the time. Can Toby learn to love his little brother all the same?

Nayu's thoughts

I laughed when I saw the cover, and I laughed on every single page of this adorable book. I think it captures a new baby through a child's eyes, because let's face it, babies do poop a lot. It can really smell, and do all sorts of gross things at unexpected moments, as is proven in the book. But there is more to babies than poop, as Toby discovers. I liked how the expectations Toby had of the new baby didn't pan out quite how he hoped.

Rebecca's bright, cute and funny illustrations say more than the text can on it's own. They have me rereading the book more than once just because they make me laugh and the expressions are priceless. I especially love Clemmie! She's a sweetheart in the book, and in real life too - read Rebecca's post below for details.

Nayu here! I'm thrilled to have Rebecca explain why she's written Mr Super Poopy Pants! and what she wants to see more of in children's books. I totally agree with her.

Rebecca with her children, including Clemmie who has lovely long hair!

Bears and mice having a
cuddle. In today’s climate this is how a lot of children’s
publishers are playing it safe at the moment – by publishing books
about bears and mice having yet another ruddy cuddle. Now I’m all
for cute cuddly children’s books, as a picture book writer and
illustrator I’ve had a hand in my fair share, but I’m also
increasingly coming to the opinion that by solely publishing soppy
durge we underestimate children and restrict their natural interest
in the world around them. Even little children have worries and
questions that they want to talk about. Why are people adopted? Why
is my friend a different colour? Why is Grandad poorly? Why do some
people have just one mummy, or two daddies? Why do people go to
different churches? Why is Mummy having another baby? Why are some
people in wheelchairs? And so on, and so on. And I think a little
more of the literature aimed at kids could reflect some of their
questions and allow them to explore the answers in a fun and frank
way.

And so I’ve tried to
at least introduce a few of these topics in my books. I’m lucky to
have found a publisher in Lion Children’s Books who are more keen
to push the boundaries a little and they have allowed me to write
about adoption in Zoo Girl, conservation and eco issues in The Last
Tiger, disability and child’s health issues in Just Because and
Sometimes and now the introduction of a new sibling in the family
(and a lot of stinky poop) in Mr Super Poopy Pants. Future books with
them will be covering the death of a pet and starting a new school.
First and foremost, of course, children’s books should be fun,
funny and an all-round good read and certainly with no “And little
Jimmy learnt how to share after all” message at the end of the
story as children can smell a moral a mile off. But surely sometimes
you can have fun and funny alongside important and relevant?

Clemmie in Mr Super Poopy Pants!

So why did I start
writing picture books about something other than bears and mice
having a cuddle? It was the birth of my first muse, my darling
Clementine, who was born with profound mental and physical
disabilities and the realization that disability, particularly, is
woefully unrepresented in children’s literature. Considering
the fact that 1 in 20 children in the UK have a disability it is
astonishing and disgraceful that disability is so seldom represented
in children’s books.

And so I wrote the
books ‘Just Because’ and ‘Sometimes’ about Clementine and her
relationship with her little brother Toby which is effortlessly
funny, fun and touching –all the ingredients of a good picture
book. Clemmie has been such a positive influence on our lives and I
wanted to share that positivity in a world where severe disability is
normally represented as a hugely negative and sad thing. And children
are so open to discussing it – if they meet Clemmie or hear the
story they want to ask questions – why is she like this? What can
she do? How does her ‘magic belly tube’ work? How fast can her
chair go? Whilst their parents normally cringe behind them or subtly
tell them to ‘shut up’ through a sheepish fixed grin. And I
wonder - what happens between that questioning innocent child and the
embarrassed awkward parent? These questions are great and should be
encouraged but by silencing them we’re teaching our children that
this is an awkward situation that is best avoided. Children are
naturally open-minded, unprejudiced and ready to soak up the world
like a sponge so perhaps we and the literature aimed at them could do
a little more to make sure they soak up the right stuff!?

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Essential Review Policy Information

Currently not accepting books for review until April 2018

This review policy change is due to winter being my worst time of year health wise, and it's just easier to put a suspension on accepting new reviews until I know I will be able to do them. Click on this link to see the full explanation

Exceptions are if you are an author I really like/or are a picture book!You will know who you are. If you don't mind a wait, do email me to see if I'll make an exception - I may depending on the book.

I accept books, ebooks, + audiobooks frompublishers, publicists, and authors. I also accept independently published books.

Other review items I'm happy to consider:jigsaw puzzles, apps for both android and iPad, candles, yarn, and chocolate.

Hi, I'm Nayu!

About me

About me I'm a UK book reviewer who founded NRC in 2009. As well as books I'm addicted to anime, love gaming, and spend time coaxing novels out of my Muse. I'm at the early stage of the path to publication, and will release all news when I have it! ^o^ Sometimes there will be days without posts because I have to deal with chronic illness and chronic pain gremlins. Please be patient in the down times.

Thanks to my passion for languages I like to rest up watching anime in English, French, and Japanese. I also adore gaming and cross stitch. My crochet hobby has evolved in to my Etsy store and blog Nayu's Crochet Dreams, where I sell handmade blankets, dishcloths and other crochet goods.

My cat Belle loves curling on my lap when I read, although she gets a bit crabby when I crochet because she doesn't like the yarn draping over her. Needless to say she doesn't get a say in the matter!

I hope you enjoy Nayu's Reading Corner, which has lots to offer whatever you're interested in.

short 'n' sweet= a shorter than normal review for when I'm low on energy/ill. Full reason is in this post. It bears no reflection on the book's brilliance. I truly would write more if I could.

Apart from books, which are copyright to the publisher, and pictures which I say are mine, all other pictures are found online through a Google search. I don't own the right to any of them.

Affiliates:I'm in the slow process of removing affiliate links. All affilate links will be marked as such, and if you choose to buy a book through an affiliate I get a tiny smidge of money. None of my opinions change because I'm using affiliates.

Nayu, 13th March 2017

Disclaimer

I am fortunate that most of the books I currently review are received from authors and publishers.

At the beginning of each review I put either Review copy (received from authors/publishers), Personal Copy (purchased by myself) or Library Copy (borrowed from the library).

Wherever the book comes from, I always write an honest review, explaining what I do like, as well as what I don't. I don't receive any payment for these reviews.